A mum has told how a charity supported by Sport Relief has helped her teenage son who has shown signs of autism and was facing expulsion from school.

Caroline Parkes, from Tipton, had to take four months off work with stress as 15 year-old Matthew struggled wth his temper, and had difficulties concentrating and interacting with people.

Mainstream school became a challenge for the youngster and he faced expulsion.

Over the last year the family have received suport from Midland Heart which is running a programme with the Albion Foundation after receiving a £86,000 grant from Comic Relief/ Sport Relief.

With the help of the project, who have assigned an intervention worker to the family, Matthew has taken control of his anger issues and started a school more adapted to his needs.

The atmosphere at home is calmer and Caroline is receiving the support she needs to help her son flourish.

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“The situation was really bad. There wasn’t a day when I wasn’t down at the school for his behaviour, it was really out of hand,” Caroline said.

“School has been his biggest obstacle, so since leaving and coming to the project he’s a different child. He is much calmer and his temper is less erratic.

“Matthew needs nurturing and not many people have the time to spend with him, but that isn’t the case here.

“Our intervention worker, Alex, works with Mathew on a weekly basis and when she says she is going to help him with something, I know she will and that is a massive relief.

“Alex has been a huge emotional support. There aren’t many days when we don’t speak to each other. She is the only constant support in our lives. Matthew is much happier and I’ve been able to return to work. I don’t know what we would have done without her. We are so grateful.

“Midland Heart is a lifeline for families so thank you to everyone raising money for Sport Relief this year to help keep projects like this running. It really does make a difference.”

For Sport Relief 2014, the generous people of the West Midlands raised and donated almost £2 million to help transform people’s lives across the UK and the world’s poorest communities.